Current Affairs – 16 March,2024
- Theme: ‘Vaccines Work For All’ emphasizing safe and effective vaccination for everyone.
- National Vaccination Day is observed on March 16 every year in India to raise awareness about the importance of vaccines for human health, also known as National Immunization Day.
- The history of National Vaccination Day dates back to 1995 when the first dose of oral polio vaccine was administered in India.
- This marked a significant milestone in India’s healthcare system.Vaccination plays a crucial role in preventing various infectious diseases, reducing their spread, and protecting individuals and communities from outbreaks. It also contributes to improving overall public health, lowering healthcare costs, and enhancing productivity.
Current Affairs – 16 March,2024
- Pandavula Gutta in Telangana is identified as the only Geo-heritage site in the region and is claimed to be older than the Himalayas.
- Efforts are underway to secure World Heritage Site status for Pandavula Gutta, emphasizing the need for conservation and protection.
- The site also features inscriptions dating from the 7th-8th century A.D., shedding light on the region’s medieval history and cultural exchanges.
Current Affairs – 15 March,2024
- Gyanesh Kumar and Sukhbir Singh Sandhu, former IAS officers from the 1988 batch, were appointed as election commissioners on March 14, 2024.
- Their appointments were approved by the PM-led selection committee and come ahead of the Lok Sabha and four state assemblies’ poll announcements.
- Kumar, from the Kerala cadre, retired as secretary in the Ministry of Cooperation, while Sandhu, from the Uttarakhand cadre, served as chief secretary of Uttarakhand.
- The appointments filled vacancies caused by Anup Chandra Pandey’s retirement and Arun Goel’s resignation.
- Gyanesh Kumar is expected to succeed Rajiv Kumar as the next Chief Election Commissioner in February 2025.
More About: Gyanesh Kumar, Sukhbir Singh Sandhu named new Election Commissioners
Current Affairs – 15 March,2024
- Fitch raised India’s economic growth forecast to 7% for the next fiscal year, citing strong domestic demand and business confidence.
- It projected a 8.4% growth in GDP during the third quarter of the current fiscal year.
- The agency also revised India’s GDP growth for FY24 to 7.8% and for FY25 to 7.0%, expecting continued strong expansion driven by domestic demand, especially investment.
- Fitch expects India’s GDP to surpass $4 trillion in 2024-25, with the government also increasing its forecast for FY24’s GDP growth to 7.6%.
More About:Fitch Raises India’s Growth Forecast for Next Fiscal to 7%
Current Affairs – 15 March,2024
- World Consumer Rights Day, observed annually on March 15, aims to ensure consumers have necessary information for informed decisions.
- Founded by Consumers International in 1983, it honors JFK’s 1962 speech on consumer rights, including safety, information, choice, and redressal.
- This year’s theme, ‘Fair and Responsible AI for Consumers,’ highlights AI’s impact on consumer rights.
- Consumers are entitled to rights such as safety, information, choice, redressal, and education, empowering them in the marketplace.
- World Consumer Rights Day educates consumers, advocates for fair business practices, and addresses concerns like privacy breaches in AI technologies.
More About:World Consumer Rights Day-15 march 2024
Current Affairs – 15 March,2024
- SpaceX’s Starship rocket imploded after completing the majority of its third test flight, which was intended to transport astronauts to the moon and beyond.
- The rocket flew nearly the full distance but disintegrated on its return to Earth, losing communication during re-entry.
- Despite the failure, the flight met several critical objectives, including successful stage separation, payload door operation in orbit, and propellant transfer in space.
- SpaceX’s engineering culture prioritizes pushing spacecraft to failure in order to make improvements, and the company anticipates at least six more Starship test flights this year.
More About:SpaceX Starship disintegrates after completing most of third test flight
Mumbai won the 2024 Ranji Trophy
Current Affairs – 15 March,2024
- Ranji Trophy 2024 Final: Mumbai defeated Vidarbha by 169 runs at Wankhede Stadium, winning the trophy for the 42nd time.
- The Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) raised the prize money to ₹10 crore for the winning team, plus an additional ₹5 crore.
- Tanush Kotian and Tushar Deshpande played critical contributions in Mumbai’s triumph.
- Ajinkya Rahane has been the 26th Mumbai captain to win the Ranji Trophy. Rahane emphasized the team’s hard effort and ability to perform in difficult situations as major factors in their achievement.
B Sairam appointed as the new Chairman and Managing Director of NCL
Current Affairs – 15 March,2024
- Appointment: B Northern Coalfields Limited (NCL), a subsidiary of Coal India Limited, has selected Sairam as its new Chairman and Managing Director (CMD).
- Background: Sairam has over 33 years of coal industry experience and holds a mining engineering degree from NIT Raipur.
- He has extensive experience in mine operations, planning, logistics, and regulatory issues.
Sairam earned a PGDM in Energy Management from the NTPC School of Business in Delhi, as well as a program at Nanyang Business School in Singapore. - Achievements: He was instrumental in driving Central Coalfields Limited’s organic expansion and creating coal logistical infrastructure.
- Sustainability: Sairam has worked to link Coal India’s sustainability vision with UN sustainability goals and community development projects.
Current Affairs – 14 March,2024
- Date: The International Day of Action for Rivers is held on March 14 every year.
- The topic for 2024 is “Water for All,” with an emphasis on fair access to clean water and the protection of rivers as national assets.
- History: In 1997, the First International Meeting of People Affected by Dams in Brazil established the day to raise awareness about harmful water projects.
- Significance: It emphasizes the role of rivers in sustaining ecosystems, biodiversity, and human livelihoods, and advocates for their conservation and sustainable management.
More About:International Day of Action for Rivers 2024
Current Affairs – 14 March,2024
- India and Bhutan signed MoUs on energy conservation and petroleum supply, enhancing economic cooperation.
- An agreement between BFDA and FSSAI was approved, facilitating trade by ensuring food safety standards.
- Delhi’s Cabinet approved two metro corridors, aiming to improve connectivity in the capital.
- The Cabinet approved an IGFA with the UAE for the IMEC, enhancing bilateral cooperation in ports and logistics.
More About:MoUs and Agreements between India and Bhutan
Current Affairs – 14 March,2024
- Ahmednagar, Maharashtra, will be renamed Ahilya Nagar in honor of Ahilyabai Holkar, who was born in Chondi village in Ahmednagar.
- CM Eknath Shinde declared the name on Ahilyabai Holkar’s 298th birth anniversary.
- The renaming follows similar campaigns in Aurangabad and Osmanabad, which were renamed Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar and Dharashiv, respectively.
- BJP leader Gopichand Padalkar, who represents the Dhangar community, advocated the renaming in honor of Ahilyabai Holkar, a member of the same group.
- Ahmednagar, founded in 1494 by Ahmad Nizam Shah, has a rich historical past that will be considered in the renaming choice.
More About : Maharashtra’s Ahmednagar Renamed Ahilya Nagar
Current Affairs – 14 March,2024
- India and the Dominican Republic signed a pact establishing a Joint Economic and Trade Committee (JETCO) to strengthen trade relations.
- India mostly imports gold and exports pharmaceuticals, marine items, automobiles, and two- and three-wheelers to the Dominican Republic.
- There is currently no bilateral institutional structure to facilitate commerce between the two countries.
- The JETCO strives to boost trade, provide job opportunities, and build economic ties.
- Bilateral trade fell to $690 million in 2022-23 from $959 million in 2021-22, with the Dominican Republic maintaining a trade surplus.
Current Affairs – 14 March,2024
- Sahitya Akademi Award 2023: 24 writers honored in New Delhi on March 12, 2024.
- Recognized works: 9 poetry books, 6 novels, 5 short story collections, 3 essays, and 1 literary study.
- Notable awardees: Sanjeev for “Mujhe Pehchaano,” Neelum Saran Gaur for “Requiem in Raga Janki.”
- Poetry awardees: Vijay Verma (Dogri), Vinod Joshi (Gujarati), Manshoor Banihali (Kashmiri), and others.
- Award details: Awardees received ₹1 lakh, a copper plaque, and a shawl.
More About: Sahitya Akademi Award 2023
Current Affairs – 14 March,2024
- India is ranked 108th out of 193 countries on the Gender Inequality Index 2022, a substantial increase from 122nd in 2021.
- The country’s GII score is 0.437, suggesting that gender inequality has decreased over the last decade, with measures aimed at empowering women via education, skill development, and workplace safety.
- Despite progress, India still has a significant gender disparity in labor force participation, with a 47.8% difference between women (28.3%) and males (76.1%).
- India’s Human Development Index (HDI) rose to 134th in 2022, with a score of 0.644, showing improvements in life expectancy, education, and income.
More About: India jumps 14 ranks on Gender Inequality Index
Current Affairs – 14 March,2024
- ADB will grant a loan of $181 million to boost livability and transportation in Ahmedabad’s periurban districts.
- The project’s goal is to aid the urban poor, women, and migrant workers by improving urban services and governance.
- It include building water distribution networks, stormwater drainage, sewerage systems, and sewage treatment plants.
- The project would also increase connectivity by upgrading 10 junctions on the Sardar Patel Ring Road.
- The initiative also includes capacity building for technology-based urban planning, climate change resilience, and disaster management.
More About: ADB to Provide $181 Million Loan for Ahmedabad Livability and Mobility
Current Affairs – 13 March,2024
- Sachin Salunkhe received the ‘Promising Investor for the Year 2024’ award at the Goa Investment and Business Summit.
- He is known for his strategic investments in over 104 companies, focusing on technology startups and sustainable energy initiatives.
- Salunkhe’s approach combines economic success with social responsibility, aiming for broader national and global advancements.
- His transition from entrepreneur to investor highlights opportunities in India’s startup landscape for investors.
Current Affairs – 13 March,2024
- Participants: China, Iran, and Russia are participating in a combined naval drill known as “Marine Security Belt 2024” in the Gulf of Oman.
- Scope: The drill spans 17,000 square kilometers of water in the Gulf of Oman.
- Purpose: The exercise’s goal is to improve marine security, combat piracy and terrorism, support humanitarian efforts, and improve information sharing for rescue operations.
- Context: The practice comes at a time when tensions between the United States and China are high, and it underscores China’s policy of strengthening connections with countries that oppose the United States. Iran wants to demonstrate its capabilities to secure important waterways such as the Gulf of Oman and the Strait of Hormuz.
Current Affairs – 13 March,2024
- Date: March 11, 2024
- Location: NABI, Mohali
- Inaugurator: Dr. Jitendra Singh
- Objective: Enhance crop quality and yield, aligning with PM Modi’s goal of doubling farmers’ income and promoting Agri StartUps.
- Beneficiaries: Farmers, scientists, researchers, and plant breeders nationwide, with a focus on North Indian regions.
- Focus: Develop climate-resistant crops for year-round farming, ensuring food security and addressing climate change.
Current Affairs – 13 March,2024
- Initiative:Union Minister Shri Rajeev Chandrasekhar inaugurated India’s First FutureLABS at C-DAC Thiruvananthapuram, focusing on next-gen chip design and research.
- Aim:The center, named “Centre for Semiconductor Chips & Systems for Strategic Electronics,” aims to pioneer next-generation chip design, manufacturing, and research.
- Collaborations:Collaborations with the Ministry of Railways for developing electric locomotives and an MoU with Tata Power for sustainable energy solutions highlight C-DAC(T)’s commitment to technological advancements.
- Impact:FutureLABS emphasizes collaborative innovation involving government bodies, industry, academia, students, and startups, aiming to transform Thiruvananthapuram into India’s next innovation hub.
Current Affairs – 13 March,2024
- Announcement:Odisha provides women in government 10 more days of casual leave to help them combine work and personal life.Women are now entitled to 25 days of casual leave each year, up from 15 in the past.
- Maternity Leave: Non-government-aided educational institutions provide women with 180 days of paid maternity leave for two live births.
- Impact: Expected to increase work satisfaction and well-being, demonstrating the state’s commitment to gender equality.
- Broader Initiatives: Odisha pioneered 33% reservation for women in government jobs and implemented a variety of socioeconomic empowerment policies.
Current Affairs – 13 March,2024
- Date & Location: Signed on March 12, 2024, in Cairo, Egypt.
- Objective: Bridge ICT skills gap, enhance industry engagement, foster India-Egypt cooperation.
- Areas of Collaboration: Curriculum development, trainer exchange, certification recognition, virtual labs, diploma programs.
- Significance: Aims to enhance workforce skills, promote employment, address skills gaps, and foster international cooperation.
